All executive cars are spacious, sophisticated, smooth and packed with technology -- but very few are beautiful.

Jaguar's X-Type combines all the qualities and refinement demanded of a luxury sports saloon in a truly elegant body.

The car was eagerly awaited, with more than 4,000 advance orders, worth about £100m at showroom prices, stacked up before the car went on sale.

The enthusiasm was well justified as the svelte X-Type really hits the spot.

It needed to, as its opposition, mostly German, is well-established and stylish. When you are trying to persuade buyers, mostly in the business sector, to switch from the likes of the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series or Mercedes-Benz C-class, you have to offer an appealing package.

The attraction of the X-Type lies in its blend of performance, styling, all-wheel-drive technology and sheer practicality.

Most cars inevitably perform a variety of roles and the X-Type, as well as exuding an aura of executive elegance, has down-to-earth, day-to-day qualities, including ample interior space and the largest boot ever fitted to a Jaguar.

Built in Halewood, Merseyside, where parent company Ford invested £300m, the X-Type comes with a slick five-speed manual transmission as standard, with electronic, five-speed automatic transmission as an option across the range.

Handling is stable and precise and the four-wheel-drive system gives a tangible sense of increased grip on wet, greasy roads.

The taut handling is not achieved at the expense of comfort and the ride is every bit as smooth and unruffled as you would expect from a Jaguar.

Instrumentation is clear, with dials trimmed in chrome adding a touch of interior polish that matches the elegant exterior. Switchgear is clear, easy-to-operate and full of helpful touches like an automatic setting for the headlights, which come on when light drops below a pre-set level.

Standard equipment on the V6 test model is comprehensive, ranging from anti-lock brakes, speed-sensitive power steering and alloy wheels, to air conditioning, bird's eye maple veneer and electric driver's seat height adjustment.

Safety features are equally extensive and include energy-absorbing head impact zones and a host of front, side and curtain airbags.

Optional equipment ranges from DVD-based satellite navigation and touch-screen display to rain-sensing windscreen wipers and ultrasonic reverse park control system.

The X-Type range was launched with 2.5-litre and 3.0-litre V6 models and the range is due to be extended with the launch of a 2.0-litre version, with prices starting at £20,000.

Warranty cover across the range is extensive, including three-year, 60,000-mile mechanical and electrical warranty, three-year paint surface warranty, six-year corrosion warranty.

For further information contact Guy Salmon Jaguar on 01865 865100.

AUTO FACTS

MODEL: Jaguar X-Type 2.5 V6

PRICE: £22,000 on the road

INSURANCE GROUP: 15E

FUEL CONSUMPTION (MPG)

Urban: 20.7mpg

Extra urban: 39mpg

Combined: 29.5mpg

COMFORT: Excellent

LUGGAGE SPACE: 16 cu ft

DIMENSIONS:

Length: 467.2cm/184in

Width: 178.9cm/70.4in

TOP SPEED: 140mph

FUEL TANK CAPACITY: 61 litres/13.5 gallons